Regulator nozzle



Nov. 13, 1951 W. C. BUTTNER T AL v 5 2 REGULATOR NOZZLE Filed Ma 27!1946 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 REGULATOR NOZZLE William C. Bttner,Winnetka, and Savin L.

Sundstrom, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Bastan-Blessing Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application May 27, 1946,Serial No. 672,660

This invention relates generally to pressure regulators and morespecifically to an improved inlet valve nozzle for Oxygen regulators.

Oxygen is commonly stored in steel cylinders under pressures 2000 to2400 pounds per Square inch. Before Oxygen stored in this manner can beused for heating and welding with a blowpipe, medicinal purposes or anyone of a number of other purposes, its pressure must first be reduced toa value suitable to theapparatus using the gas and' this is usuallvaccomplished by a regulator em loying a diaphragm controlled valve.

With Oxygen, a difficulty is experienced in the pressure regulator Whichdoes not occur With any other gases. Such is the ignition of the valvedisc used in the regulator.

It is' the common practice in regulators to make the inlet valve discout of hard rubber or other resilient material to attain a positive sealWhen the valve is closed. All the materials which have been found to besatisfactory for valve discs are inflammable in the presence of highpressure Oxygen and although some are more resistant to ignition thanothers the superior resistance is only a matter of degree and additionalmeans must be employed to attain the necessary degree of safety.

It is well known in the art of chemistry that most chemical reactionsinvolving gases and Solids will occur with greater speed and at lowert'emperatures if the pressure on the gas is elevated. This is due to thefact that a gas is more dense under high pressure and more molecules ofthe gas are confined in a given space. Since reaction cannot occurexcept when a molecule of the gas Strikes a molecule of the solid, anincrease in the number of gas molecules in the Vicinity of the solitiwill result in a higher rate of reaction. For the same reason a pure gaswill usually react with more speed than a gas which is mixed Withanother non-reacting gas. Consequently, Oxygen under high pressure ismuch more likely to cause ignition than `Oxygen under low pressure orthan air Which is a mixture of Oxygen and other gases.

It is also known in the science of thermodynamics that gases are cooledby expansicn and conversely heated when compressed. If a Volume ofOxygen is compressed from atmospherc pressure and temperature to 2000pounds per Square inch 'without any heat escaping from the gas to itsconfining parts, the temperature will rise to more than 1500 F., and,although heat does escape, the heat transfer requires appreciable 7Claims. (Cl. 251-167) time. Consequently', the more. rapid thecompression, the, hotter the compressed gas will become.

If a pressure regulator is attached to an Oxy en cylinder by a conduitand the valve on the cylinfi der is suddenly opened, Oxygen under highpressure flowing out of the cylinder'will carry ahead of it the Oxygenalready in the conduit and com press same almost instantly at the farend o! the conduit. If theend wall of the conduit is the inlet valvedisc in a regulator; most of the heat formed by the compression will beconcen'- trated at this point. 'I'he sudden increase of' the temperatureof the Oxygen will cause the valve disc material of the inlet valve toig-nite, and' the disc will burn away causing rapid leakage of highpressure Oxygen into the low pressure Chamber and cause the regulator toexplode under the uncontrolled pressure.

Because such ignition and subsequent explosions can be extremelydangerous, many attempts have ben made to find a. non-flammable valvedisc material. Some improvement has rewarded the experimenters, but manyexplosion's with consequent loss of life or injury have still occurred.

In the past attempts have also been made to alter the construction ofregulators in order to provide obstructions in the., path of the gasstream and make the compression occur at some other point than directlyon the valve disc. Much progress has been made in thisv directionybutmany difficulties are still incurred. Much of the shortcomings remainingwith the use of obstruc- J tions is probably due to the fact that theobstructions have been located too far away from the valve disc todisperse the heat and a second compression occurs in the Oxygen passagebetween the obstruction and' the disc. This compression, although not asdangerous as when no obstructions are present may still cause ignitionsunder unexpected conditions, particularly if a. full, Oxygen cylinder isconnected to a sun-warmed conduit and regulator.

Regulators may also be easily damaged When foreign particles are presentin the inlet conduit. These particles are swept along by rapidly flowinggas stream and become imbedded in or scar the surface of the valve'disc.

One object of this invention therefore is to provide a replaceableinletvalve nozzle for an Oxygen regulator which will absolutely protect thevalve disc from ignition by resisti ng the 'rapid compression of Oxygenadjacent to the valve seat and Simultaneously conducting heat away fromthe gas.

Another object is to provide an Oxygen valve nozzle which will break upthe gas stream into several sectionally small streams, allow the streamsto be defiected by an inclined wall into a blind annlar jvtygbeforereuniting and passing out of the nozzle" port into contact With thevalve disc.

Another object is to provide a compact nozzle which has relatively largeareas of metal in contact with the Oxygen stream so as to achieve ahigher degree of heat transfer from the Oxygen vgas to the metal body atthe point where the heat is lntense.

Another object is to provide a valve nozzle which can be easilymanufactured of parts readily produced by automatic machines and willhave the mechanical strength required to withstand the high pressuresencountered.

Another object'is to provide a safe nozzle for Oxygen which may be usedin regulators, control valves, and any other type of equipment having anonmetallic valve disc which is to be connected directly to asource ofhigh pressure Oxygen.

Another object is toprovide a nozzle which will inhibit foreignparticles carried by the'high velocity Oxygen stream from damaging thevalve disc.

v Further objects of this invention Will appear from a study of, thedrawing; the specification andthe appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing in Which a preferred embodiment of thisinvention is illustrated.

Fig. l is a, view of an Oxygen regulator attached to a-storage cylinder,

.Fig. 2 is a cut away view of an Oxygen regulator showing the locationof the inlet nozzle,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of an inlet nozzle, and iFig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The preferred method of mounting a conventional type xygen regulator 3aon an Oxygen storage cylinder 9 by means of a coupling 4 threaded intothe Oxygen valve 2 is shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 an inlet nozzle 8 isshown monted within a conventional regulator 3. The rear end of thenozzle B is in communication with the Oxygen inlet passage 5 leadingfrom the cylinder, and the forward end is in contact with the valve disc1.

For purpose of mounting the nozzle 6 in the regulator body in a threadedportion 8 of the nozzle is screwed into a cavity in a brid e 9 formedintegrally with 'the regulator body l D. The valve disc 1 is m'ounted ina support l l which in turn is attached to the diaphragm I2 so that itis moved by the diaphragm |2 to Open and close the inlet valve port 13.A further description of the construction of a regulator of this typewill be found in Patent No; 1,5l4,217 issued to Messer.

the preferred embodiment of the invention the nozzle 6 is composed ofthree parts, a nozzle body M, acore |5 andapin 16.

Referring to the nozzle body M 'a hex Section Ha is provided on itsexternal surface to receive a 'wrench for tightening and removing theunit whenever desirable and below the hex section Ma the nozzle body isprovided with a tapering eX- ternal surface which terminates at thebottom in y a reduced end portionrounded to provide a land Mcsurrounding the port 13, Although the sectional curved defined by the]and may be varied in relationship -to the material of which the valvedisc 1 is made so that it will -not cut or rupture the alve disc thepreferred contour is Semiemphcal with the broader part of the curve uponits lowest eXtremity.

The internal machining of the nozzle body [4 is such that thecylindrical cavity H extends downwardly Well Within the hex section Hawhere it terminates in a shoulder I'Ia at its marginal edges and aconverging conical passageway 21 leading to the port 13.

The core l5 comprises a body portion having a cylindrical outer contourwhich slips snugly into the cylindrical cavity l. The outer surface ofthe core is fluted longitudinally to provide passages IT, and the intierend thereof which engages the shoulder Ha is castellated as at ]5a tobring the passages 20 into the conical passageway 21. The castellationsopen radially inwardly in mutually opposing relationship so that gasstreams fiowing through the passages 20 can converge and mingle to someextent before entering the conical passage 21. Above the castellationsI5a the core [5 is drilled out to provide-an enlarged Chamber 22 and ahole :a of reduced diameter at the upper end thereof.

All metal parts are nonferrous, being made preferably of brass.

In assembling the parts the core [5 is passed downwardly into thecentral cavity i'l in the body M and the pin l6 inserted into thecentral .hole la in the core [5. When the pin IB is located so that itwill be in close proximity with, but will not contact the valve disc 1,it is tacked in' place by a drop of solder [9 on the rear end 'of thecore [5.

When the core l5 is inserted into the central cavity li of the nozzlebody M, the longitudinai slots 28 on the outer surface of the core ibecome passages that run forward to the shoulder l'la' and the conicalportion 21 of the central cavity ll. This construction has been found tobe superior to drilled holes because a greater number of smallerpassages may be provided in a nozzle of a given size, and it is a lessexpensive form of construction than the drilling of a number of smallholes.

When the end of the pin 16 is in place in the hole IB, the enlargement22 becomes a dd end pocket above the castellations Isa. The iowa: end ofthe pin where it passes the castellations Isa serves as a deflectingWall for gasesflowing out of the castellations [5a whereby some of thegases are deflected into the pocket 22 to dsperse any hot compressionwave. The downstream end of the pin [6 serves to increase the metalsurface available for heat exchange contact with hot gases not initiallydeflected into the pocket 22. In seine applications of the invention, aswhere a smaller' sized nozzle is desired, it has been found that thelower end portion of the pin can be dispensed with as long as thesalient features of the rest of the nozzle rmain.

The operation of this invention is as follows: When the valve 2 on theOxygen container l is opened, a high velocity stream of Oxygen flowsthrough the fitting 4 and into the regulator inlet passage 5. At the endof this passage 5 it is forced to change direction and Strikes the rearface of the nozzle 6. Part of the force of compression is dissipated andconverted into heat at this point', for compression is forced to occurhere due to the restricting action exerted by the plurality of passagesl formed With smaller cross sectional area than the passage 5. s v

However, a portion of the rapidly fiowing gas stream will move. directlythrough the slots l l g inst e sh lder fic into t eoncal Sectwn "li"ofthe cavity l-Iere the-inlined `wails 20 the pin 16 in refiecting someportion o f the gas streams zaekwardly into theaocket -22 surroundhthepin 1 6 within-the -'core =Mor e of 'the beat of compression isconducted away a-t this point' by the-walls -of-'the cavityfzand the pinsincemoving gases have an inertiaiore'wh ich tejnc ls to 'keep them'traveli ng in 'the 'same 'direction, -a reversal, reverberation, 'orchange in direction of a gas stream w ill be induced and compressiodwilloccur upstream *of the obstruc-'t'ien in the :path 'off the gas whichcauSeS thereversal. Furthermor, the gases nowingrrein the restricting`pgssages intothe 'nlarged space 24 will have a tendency `to cush'ionth'e pressure wave. Consequently, the .gas velocity ,and pressure on thedownstream side of an obstruction will be reduced.

Because of this the gas streams 'are greatly re!- duced in veloci ty bythe several reversals in direction and reductions and subsequentincreases in passage area as they flow forwardly into the ,port 13'wherethe 'valve disc 1 rece'ives the impact of the heat and pressure wave.

Comparative tests between the embodiment of this invention illustratedin the drawing and a standard type nozzle were made. It has been foundthat ignition of the disc is most likely to occur if the valve discsurface becomes scratched or roughened in use and the parts conductingthe high pressure Oxygen are allowed to stand in the bright Sun untilthe residual contents are quite warm. This is an approximation of theworse situation to be found under service conditions. In the tests SunWarmed Oxygen was used with several valve discs which hadbecomeroughened. A regulator was equipped with a Standard type nozzleand each disc was successively tested. The regulator was then attachedto an Oxygen cylinder and the cylinder valve opened to admit highpressure Oxygen to the regulator and allow rapid compression to takeplace. Fifteen discs were tested with the standard noZZle, and each discwas examined after testing to see if igniton had occurred. Thisprocedure was then repeated using an embodiment of this inventon andfifteen more like discs. Th old type noZzle produced Six ignitions outof fifteen, and the new nozzle produced no ignitions at all out offifteen tests.

Further tests were made using a seat ignition testing device whichconsisted of a tube about 18 inches long fitted at one end with a quickopening valve and attached to a cylinde o hi h pressure Oxygen. Theother end of this tube was threaded so that either of the two nozzles tobe tested could be inserted. A va ve disc was firm y clamped in positionclosing the end of the nozzle. The device was then Operated byinstalling a valve disc and quickly opening the inlet valve to allowcompression to take place at the end of the tube. This is probably oneof the most rigorous tests to which a combination of nozzle and disc maybe put. Thirty discs of different materials were tested with a standardtvpe nozz'e and resulted in twenty-seven ignitions. Thirty discs of thesame materials tested with the embodiment of this invention resulted inno ignitions at all.

Since the process of valve disc ignition takes place in such so itsecond intervals 0+' time, it is impossible to determine whv one nozzlewill proby 'the -passages 'through' the slots` :n in the core TSandsecondly reflected backwards 'by the 'pin 'and the slanting wall 2lof 'the conical section *13 into the core `cavity 22 rather thanabsorbed-directly by the va1ve disc 1. 'The Square shape (rather thanround) -of'` the passages n is .also believed 'to be 'of benefit 'inreducing the compres sive force while the central pn I'G serves toconductaway hea't which is formed 'in the-core cavity z 'andat'the'fac'e-of the disc.

'invention -has "been shown embodied in one form in a pressure reducingregulator for xygen, but it :is intended that the invention isllmitedfto this -embodirnent alene. *Such nozzles oan"aiso'be`used`mother types o'valves, for air orother gas'es, and the design 'of thenozzle itsei canbe varied without departing from the inven'tion 'who's'e:scope is 'shown in the following Claims. l l

What is 'claimed fis':

?1. lA valve 'no'z'zle comprising a body, "having a' cavity extending'from its upstream end and a second smaller diameter cavity extending'from its downstream end, a conical passage having a shoulder at itsupstream end connecting said two cavities, and an externally fiuted corethe fiutes extending the length thereof and disposed in saidupstreamcavity against said shoulder, said core having a centralshock-absorbing pocket opening into said conical passage the downstreamend of said pocket being widened to a diameter greater than that of thebottom of the fiutes.

2. A valve nozzle comprsing an elongated bod adapted to be attached tothe valve inlet conduit, a passage therethrough, a core having externalfiutes on its outer surface and extending the length thereof disposed insaid passage said flutes connecting the upstream end of the nozzle withthe passage, a conical portion of said passage disposed at the end ofsaid core, a shock absorbing cavity within said core opening into theconical portion of said passage, and an outlet port in communicationwith said passage.

3. A valve nozzle comprising an elongated body adapted to be attached tothe valve inlet conduit, a passage therethrough, a core having externalfiutes extending over its length disposed in said passage to block sameand provide a plurality of passages as defined by said flutes connectingthe upstream end of said body with the portion of said passagedownstream with the core, a cavity within' said core, a conical portionof said passage disposed at the mouth of said cavity, an outlet port incommunication with said cavity, and a pin extending axially from saidcavity into said outlet port. i

4. A valve nozzle comprising an elongated body adapted to be attached tothe valve inlet conduit; a passage extending through said body andhaving a major diameter portion, a minor diameter portion and a conicalwalled intermediate portion; a core having external flutes thereonextending its entire length, said core being received in the majordiameter portion of said passage; a cavity within said core opening intothe conical portion of said passage, the mouth of said cavity having adiameter greater than the remainder to Connect the end of each of saidflutes with the intermediate portion of said passage; and an axal pinsupported by said core and extending into the small diameter portion ofsaid passage.

5. A valve nozzle comprising a body having a cylindrical cavityextending inwardly from its up- 5 &5765312 stream end, an outlet port oflesser diameter than said oavity extending from the downstream end ofsaid body, a conical passage connecting said cavity With said outletport, and a cylindrical core disposed in said cavity having the samediameter as said cavity and having longitudinal flutes thereon extendngthe length ofthe cavity disposed in the cavity, said core having apocketopening into said conical passage, the open end of said pocket being ofsuch diameter that the ends of the flutes are in communication with saidpocket.

6. In a regulator nozzle having an opening therethrough terminating in avalve -port, -a core supported in the end of said opening remote fromsaid port, the periphery of said core being fluted and defining passagesconnecting the end of the nozzle to the middle of said opening and saidcore having an inner cavity whose open end faces said port, the innercavity serving as a compression Chamber to absorb the shock wave 'Whengas under high pressure is introduced into the nozzle, and a pinsupported by said .core extending through said cavity to a pointadjacetsaid port.

7. An ignition resistant valve nozzle comprisng a body having anelongated annular space with an open end and a sealed end, Said bodyalso having a plurality of longitudinal passages opening from saidsealed end and communicating with said annular space near the middlethereof, and means including a conical wall disposed at the inner endofsaid passages for defiecting gas flow from said passages into saidannular space, the open end of said annular space constituting anannular valve port for Said body;

WILLIAM C. BU'I'T INIER. SAVIN L. SUNDSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record iiI-'the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Certificate of Correction Patent NO.2,575,312 November 13, 1951 WILLIAM C. BUTTNER ET AL.

It is hereby certified tht error appears 'In the rinted specificaton ofthe above numbered patent requlrng correction as follows:

Column 6, line 13, before intended 'Insert not;

and that the Said Letters Patent should be read as correct/ed above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOflice.

signed and sealed this 19th day of February, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patenta.

